Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-08-13
end of the train and saw that the bridge was
all right. There was no fire or smoke about

the bridge. Ennis said: Nv opinion is rhs,
: bridge was set on fire by somebody Ny
train wss the last train over before the spec
l2l, and if there was these men would have
discovered it. The bridge could have ben
r. burned in two or three hours About three
years ago. two attempts were mad TO ditch
the ten o'clock passenger train at that bridy ye
and We kept wztchmen there for six weeks.
DISTINCTIONS were piled onto the track II
is very lonesome place. and far from any
house.
FOREST, Aug.
At an inquest, Timothy Couxhlln, section
foreman. resiiti d thst he had four men help
ing him on his six and half miles. He re-
ceived orders on Wednesday 10 go over his
section and see thas the bridges and tracks
were all right.
Coughlin went to the east emo of his sec.
ton and burned the grass along the track for
halt mile. He burnt piece little over
half mile from the wreck. and put the ffe
out. He examined the bridge about five
o'clock and found no smoke about il and
otherwise 1t was all right.
CHICAGO. Aug ~.
A special from Forest to the Times says
As fast as the wounded were brought into
Chattsworth from the wreck they were taken
directly TO the town hall which hsd been
turned into temporary hospital. 1t is two
story frame building the lower floor of which
is used ss quarters for the local tire company
while in the upper hall entertainments are
given,
Beds and cots were brought in from the
neighboring houses together with necessary
bedding, and the sufferers were cared for
tendery.
The scene was strongly suggestive of the
interior of hospital on the field of bstte
Stretched out on the fl pors in different direc.
tions were corpses of men, women and chill
drSn dressed IN the clothing in which they
met their death
In an empty store in a room twenty feet
vide and forty feet long, were counted 27
corpses at one time. Their clothipg was torn
and their stitfened legs, and their arms in the
ms lrty of instances were crossed over their
breasts
The he ads of the dead were generally mar
gled in q tTigbtful manner A five year old
boy, with chubby face and curly hsir, looked
content and smiling. His legs were not alone
broken. but the flesh was 50 manged that it
bore the appearance of raw beet. His chest
was crushed in and his little body was GOV.
! cred with bruises.
Nearly every corpse was m,nged or dis
/ figured The faces of some of the dead were
black AS though tt, y had died from suffoca-
ton, while others were deathiy white
CHATTswoRTH, Aug. ~.
Miller Patterson, when he lett home, car
ried silver watch and $50 Olly alb )ut
| 81 80 was found on the body. A man, sp-
parently tramp, about fity wears Old, WAS
caught in the act OF robbing tn corpse and
was sp Itted thereafter by young man and
made TO sneak for Piper City.
For three hours the lifeless body of wo-
man was hanging out of car window. She
was caught by the thighs and it took fifteen
minutes to exricate her. Her legs were
horribly mangled, the flesh being torn com.
pletely of
man got out of one of the cars and near
him was a woman with fine gold watch and
Chain She was badly injured and cried with
anguish. "Oh, G ID, help me-" The man
turned, apparently to assist her, bur instead
stopped over, grabbed the watch and chain
and fed.
The rescuing party saw watches, chains
and pocketbooks scattered around. Such as
had time picked them up and restored them
to their owners.
The train wreckers are working both ways
at the wreck. and it is almest certain that
they will not get the track cleared before to-
morrow night
In the third coach from the engine was
man and his wife aud daughter. When the
! WTt Ck OCCuTTtu lS lusi MS hhbo o"tShSA oue
afterwards found it. His pocket book con-
tanning $95 was gone
James Burlingof was in the third car from
the front and was but slightly injured. He
says tnat al first he thought the car was of
the track, as it went humping along. AL
most instantly it stopped and at once could
be heard men pounding on the roof with axes
Suddenly the roof split open and crawied
out Some others crawled out. More were
doing so. Cries and shrieks conld be heard
but everything was in darkness, the lights
having been entinguished. The bridge was
atire but there was no fire outside OF the
bridge.
CHICAGO, Aug l2.
| Peoria is surrounded bv five thousand peo-
pie waiting for news. committee of one
oundre d ctiz ms wearing Grape, are stationed
at the cots to rake care of the victims.
All Peoria is in tears. Scores of her best
citiz ens were on the train, also many young
ladies. Everybody says that 1t was the j)l-
lest party that ever started on an excursion.
Merry as school chi dren hunireds had been
10 the train TO their friends drpirt but
thousands are there now to take the bodies
away on the return.
The Chicago Times Forest special says ::
The scene at the two morgues this forenoon
was horrifsing and slckening in the extreme
The heat has rapidly advanced the decumpo
sition Of the mingled corp'es and the stench
il overpowering, Each body is covered in
spots with flies.
No means are at hand for the preservation
of The remains, the supply Of ice being Inn
tied.
The dead that are unidentified lay on the
floors of the morgues guarded by the village
policemen.
The faces of the corpses are hidden BY
blankets and old coats The situation is so
urgent that the officials of the road have de-
cided to remove the bodies to Peoria by con-
sent of Coroner Long
The pecuniary loss is enormous. Under
the laws of Illinois, the relatives of the killed
will, if they have any claim at all. deplete
the treasury of The Toledo, Peoria & Western
railroad of S360,0)0, aud those injured will
receive at least a quarter of million more,
a total of $500, 900.